Friends of Marcus Garvey Library

Friends of Marcus Garvey Library Tottenham

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The Marcus Garvey Library Special Collection and the African-Caribbean Collection at the Marcus Garvey Library

1. Who Was Marcus Mosiah Garvey?

Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887-1940) was a renowned Jamaican writer, anti-racist, social and political justice crusader, publisher and journalist.

His passion for social and political activism is said to have been triggered at an early age by his love of books, a love fostered by his father and god father and he made full use of the extensive family library.  This love of reading and knowledge formed the core of his activism and is reflected in some of his most famous quotations such as “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots” and “Intelligence rules the world, ignorance carries the burden...”  He became an inspirational figure for later civil rights activists.

On August 7 1987 a foundation stone was laid by his son, Marcus Garvey Junior at I Philip Lane to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Marcus Garvey and the library bearing his name was finally opened 1993 at the same location.

2. The Importance of the Marcus Garvey Special Collection and African-Caribbean Collection

The Marcus Garvey Special Collection forms the core of those books designated as the African-Caribbean collection in the library.  In order to celebrate the relocation of the library from Tottenham High Road to Philip Lane the decision was taken to make the Marcus Garvey Special Collection the core of an African-Caribbean collection and the book stock at the new library.  The books in the Marcus Garvey Special Collection were initially donated by the Jamaican High Commission.  Over the years the collection has come under various names which have caused some confusion.  For example it was also known by residents as the Robert Hill Collection after the writer who edited important archival papers by and about Marcus Garvey.

It was also recognised that the library would be the ideal location for the Marcus Garvey Special Collection and African-Caribbean collection because of the heavy use of the library’s books and services by Black communities in the borough.  Both the Black and Black British and Asian and Asian British active borrowers are overrepresented in comparison to the catchment area population as a whole, and there was more than double the proportion of Black or Black British active borrowers than in Haringey as a whole.  Therefore the library has a key role in extending learning and information to members of the community on matters ranging from the civic to the domestic, supporting library members wishing to be informed citizens, as well as equipping library users with the knowledge and confidence to modify and make changes in their own individual lives and society.

In the 1990’s funding available from central government enabled the Council to recruit librarians who had responsibilities for the various ethnic groups in the borough; that is for the creation of diversity posts.  These librarians were responsible for a budget dedicated to their community within the borough.  Thus the Marcus Garvey Special Collection and African-Caribbean collection became the responsibility of the African-Caribbean Librarian.  When this government funding ran out, these diversity posts were fully integrated into the main library service, but the librarians still retained responsibility for their communities.  A budget was approved from the Book Fund and therefore the Marcus Garvey Collection was recognised as being part of the African-Caribbean budget and then later part of the overall Marcus Garvey Library budget with some annual boosts for Black History Month etc.  From now on, how effectively the collection was curated or protected was dependant on the enthusiasm and knowledge of library staff and members of the community, rather than on any specific Council policy.

3. The African-Caribbean Collection or Black Triangle Collection.  

As already mentioned above, the Marcus Garvey Special Collection forms the core of the African-Caribbean collection which consists of at least 500 books.  Over the years this collection has come under various names which have caused confusion.  For a long time it was described as the Marcus Garvey Collection and is now designated as the African-Caribbean collection.  For some time it was also known as the Black Triangle Collection by librarians because the books were labelled with black triangles.  Symbolically this label was probably a reference to the triangular trading system of the transatlantic slave trade   which operated from the late sixteenth to early nineteenth century.  Therefore, many of the books in this collection focussed on the historical, social and historical causes and outcomes of this terrible history.  The collection was curated by an experienced librarian and linked to other collections in other public libraries in London during the period when books could be borrowed from other library authorities and the British Library, and all the U.K. libraries had responsibilities for certain areas of the Dewey System.  This was a way of ensuring a broad stock in the public libraries that could be accessed by all residents.  

The original Black Triangle Collection was enhanced by donations from other libraries and institutions.  For example, Middlesex University donated more than two hundred books.  The Council also made a donation from the collection to the Caribbean Centre in Wood Green.

Some of the books in the collection were extremely valuable as they were one-off editions.

4. The Sale of Books from the Marcus Garvey Collection/African-Caribbean Special Collection

In the summer of 2015, without any community consultation, books from the Marcus Garvey Collection and African-Caribbean Collection were put on sale for 25 pence each prior to the closure of the library.  Those on sale included one off editions, reference works and collector’s items.

Once readers found out what was happening they started taking pictures of the books being sold-off and launched a Twitter campaign to alert the rest of the community to what was happening.  Some of the books on sale had the familiar black label which designated that the book was part of the Marcus Garvey Collection.

Readers who protested to librarians were informed that the Council was only selling off books which had not been taken out for at least five times the previous year, although reference books were also included in the sale.   The Friends group felt that this was an action which reflected a lack of knowledge of how the collection is used by many members of the local community.  Census information makes it clear that Tottenham as a borough suffers from a great deal of overcrowding  Many people prefer to use books from the collection as reference because they do not have always have a lot of space available to use them at home.

5. Freedom of Information Request.

On November 13, 2015 the Friends of Marcus Garvey Library submitted a Freedom of Information Request to Haringey Council.  The Council said that the Special Collection consisted of only twenty books, and during the sale no books had been sold from that collection.  They also said that in the African-Caribbean Collection, 398 books had been “edited” out and now have the status of “withdrawn.”  As the edited books were being sold off for 25 pence each, the Council made a profit of £99.50 from the selling-off of 398 books.  On August 30, 2015, the day the library closed down; there were 578 books in the African-Caribbean Special collection.  However because the Council have brought new books (383) according to their calculations there are currently 961 books in the African-Caribbean collection.  However we have no idea how the Council made their decisions to edit the original collection, whether the new books brought were fiction or non-fiction books, what their priorities when choosing new books were and whether they replaced any of the reference books sold off.

Of concern is the fact that discussions with retired and ex-librarians have contradicted some of the information from the Council.   We have discovered that not all the books in the African-Caribbean Collection were put onto the new computer system when it was set up.   Therefore many more books in the library designated as being part of the African-Caribbean Special Collection were not included on the computer system and therefore would not be included in the figures produced by the Council in our Freedom of Information request.

What is clear from the Freedom of Information request we made to Haringey Council is that the Council are now treating the Marcus Garvey Collection, (i.e. books by and about Marcus Garvey) as the only important part of the collection.  They are neglecting to make it clear that it forms the core of the much larger African-Caribbean Collection and that you certainly cannot have one without the other.  They appear to want us to believe that the collection consists of only twenty books.  Below are two pictures showing the covers and inside of a book by Paul Oliver, Songsters and Saints.

It was brought for 25 pence during the summer 2015 period and clearly contains the familiar black Marcus Garvey Collection label, yet it is not a book about or by Marcus Garvey; it is a book about vocal traditions within American music.  Yet, if we are to believe the Council, it was not been included in the twenty books which the Council now says makes up the official Marcus Garvey Collection.  In effect, the Council are treating what they currently designate as the African-Caribbean Collection as not being an integral part of the Special Collection and we would like clarification from them on why they are doing this.

Other residents and library users brought copies of books which contain this library label, so there is plenty of evidence available to show that the Council were selling off books from this Collection.  

6. The Future of the Collections

At the community consultation event organised by the Friends of Marcus Garvey Library in February 27

2016 at Tottenham Town Hall, it was decided that despite all the pain of the past events it was important for us to move forward and support the Council in order to ensure the maintenance and enhancement of the collections for future generations, particularly because of the seismic social and political events currently taking place in London, Europe and the world.  More importantly, it was felt that these collections should not only be maintained, but that they should have pride of place in the library when it reopens.  London is still an international and world city.  The reality is that Africans and members of the African Diaspora, along with other ethnic groups are increasing and not decreasing in number in the city; therefore the Friends of Marcus Garvey feel that Haringey Council, because of its location is being rather parochial in making the decision to maintain merely a “small heritage collection” in the library when it reopens.

For many years the history of slavery was marginal to mainstream intellectual and historical interests.  It was generally treated as a distant phenomenon, something that unfolded in Africa, the America or the Caribbean.  Today, historians are recognising the centrality of slavery in U.K history and the modern world.  The Marcus Garvey Library is unique amongst public libraries in the United Kingdom because its stock of books was originally curated with the purpose of bringing this forgotten history to the forefront of historical discourse, enabling readers to participate in the on-going contemporary global and political conversation on matters still inextricably linked to this past.

The decision was made to set up a small subgroup made up of local residents with knowledge of the collection, to work with the Council and their librarians.  For the future it was felt that more information needed to be obtained from the Council about the collection.  For example, about the amount and type of books in the collections, how decisions were taken about the books that were included and edited out, did they have a list of the books they sold off, whether with regard to black history, culture and politics the Council had regard to any type of canon or classics of the literature?

If you have any comments on the above information or believe any of it to be incorrect please get in touch with us so that we can put it right. The Friends of Marcus Garvey Library are still building up information on the Marcus Garvey and African-Caribbean collections and regard our work in this area as an on-going research project.   All the information above has been gleaned from attendees at the workshop at the February community consultation event, library users and retired and ex-librarians with knowledge of the collections, and we are grateful for all the help and support they have given us.

Friends of Marcus Garvey Library

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Schedule of Children’s Activities for FRIENDS OF MARCUS GARVEY LIBRARY Community Consultation Event on 27 February 2016, between 10 a.m. –   4 p.m.  Tottenham Town Hall

Throughout the day, adopting the use of arts and crafts and the storytelling sessions, the children and their carers will be working on a vision of the ideal children’s library for Tottenham.

10.00 – 10.30 Registration and Refreshments

10.30 – 11.30 Arts and Crafts Sessions/Block Painting/Face Painting

11.30 – 12.30          Choice of Storytelling Session or Arts and Crafts/Block Painting/Face Painting

12.30 - 1.30           LUNCH

1.30 – 2.30             Storytelling Session by ERENE KAPTANI, Arts and Crafts Session for older children.  Plus Block Painting

2.30 – 3.00            Pulling it all together/ Refreshments

3.00 - 4.00             Joining the plenary session/ Summarising the nature of the vision which has come out of all the activities.

4.00                      END

During the day, children and carers are free to join other activities and may wish to add comments to the Peace Wall being created and/or take part in the workshop on the Children’s Garden.

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FRIENDS OF MARCUS GARVEY LIBRARY Consultation Day

27 February 2016 - Tottenham Town Hall

Schedule for Adults

10.00 - 10.30               Registration and Refreshments

10.30 - 11.00               Introduction – Brief overview of past history of the campaign and why we are having the community consultation. There will be professional input for all the workshops.

11.00 - 12.30                Choice of Workshops – Attendees may take their pick.  

Size and future of the library

The Marcus Garvey Library Special Book Collection

Design of the Children’s Garden

Creation of Peace Wall with MICHELLE MOSELEY

12.30 - 1.30                 LUNCH

1.30 -  2.30                 Afternoon Workshops – Attendees may take their pick.

Session for Young People

Size and future of the library

The Marcus Garvey Library Special Book Collection

Design of the Children’s Garden

2.30 – 3.00                 Refreshments and pulling it all together

3.00 – 4.oo                 Plenary Session:  Summarizing the nature of the vision which has come out of all the workshops.

4.00                            END

DECISIONS MADE IN THE WORKSHOPS WILL BE RECORDED FOR THE PLENARY SESSION AT THE END OF THE DAY.

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The consultation will be held across 2 rooms Moselle room and the Mayors' parlor. Food and refreshments will be provided, (Yes Gina’s lovely food from the Blooming Scent Café!) Children's activities and guest speakers. Join us for this fun filled day, pop in and share YOUR views with the FRIENDS OF MARCUS GARVEY LIBRARY. We look forward to seeing you all.

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News Update 9

We're back!

Apologies for our absence.  In the first week of November we began to encounter serious problems when sending out mass mailings of emails. They kept bouncing back as spam.  After days of panic and confusion, one of the Friends came to our rescue.  Margaret Burr researched MailChimp for us and imported the email addresses over.  She is also using her excellent organisations skills to help us to sort out and make more effective our use of the

[email protected]

address.  We want to say a deep felt thank you Margaret as it was not until this problem occurred that we realised that without email we are nothing!  The problems with our email account started during a period when there was a lot happening, so this News Update is a little longer than usual but includes the Rally at the Civic Centre, Labour Party Motion, the garden and the intriguing Door to Nowhere.

Please put February 27 2016, the date of the Library Consultation we are planning, in your diary!

Best wishes

Jasmin Taylor, Chair, Friends of Marcus Garvey Library

Haringey Council’s Original Brief to Frankham’s, the Architects

In October, the Friends of Marcus Garvey Library submitted a Freedom of Information request to Haringey Council in order to obtain a copy of the original design brief submitted by the Council to Frankham’s the architects.  We had been asking for this for some time, but it was only through the FOI request that we were able to force the Council to hand over this information.

The question we asked Haringey Council was “Please supply a copy of the brief sent to the Frankham Consultancy Group in respect of the redevelopment of Marcus Garvey Library.  (If more than one brief, then the final and most detailed brief).”  To download a copy of the brief go to:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/haringey_council_brief_to_frankh

A copy of the brief is also included as an attachment to this email.

The design brief reveals the Council’s total lack of transparency with respect to their conduct over the Marcus Garvey Library.

Firstly, the brief was submitted to the architects six months before the March 17 2015 report came into the public domain.  The brief puts paid to any idea that the Council considered any alternative sites for the relocation of Apex House staff, as they claimedthey had done in the original March 17 report.  The brief makes it clear that it is just nonsense that the insertion of the Customer Service Centre into the library was meant to be for the benefit of library users.  The title tells it all; Apex House Service Relocation:  Feasibility to Adaptations to Marcus Garvey Library, Design Brief, September 2014  Page five of the brief clearly states that “…given the time pressures to vacate Apex House…Haringey Council intends to undertake adaptations to Marcus Garvey Library to allow Customer Services and Housing Advice and Options to relocate their Frontline service from Apex House to Marcus Garvey Library together with sufficient back office staff to support this service and retain a full functioning library.”  Of further interest is the fact that the insertion of a Customer Services Centre was originally meant to be an interim arrangement and also that 120 staff were intended to be transferred over and located on the top floor of the library.  The idea that 120 staff could be fitted into the top floor of the library shows that whoever wrote this brief had never actually visited the library, was living in cloud cuckoo land or was expecting the staff in Apex House to go on a very heavy duty diet!  There simply is not the space on the top floor of the library to make this happen.

Ultimately, the brief reveals that the Council had already made up their mind and set in place arrangements to insert a customer services centre into the library, a whole six months before the matter came into the public domain.  It’s the reason why they did not bother to expend any time and energy on a public consultation.

Rally and Meeting of the Planning Sub Committee on Monday 9 November

On the 9 November, despite the tight security and the metal barriers at the front of the Civic Centre campaigners staged a peaceful protest against plans to install a revolving door at the back of the library because of the serious child safeguarding issues it raises.  In the Planning Sub Committee which followed the rally, Councillors were forced to listen to representations from community members objecting to Fusion’s application to install the new door.  The fifty seven objections to the door from local residents showed the strength of feeling within the community.  Despite the ultimate outcome of this committee meeting, we have to consider the fact we got this far to be a success.  Campaigners forced the issue to be discussed in an open meeting by Councillors, rather than being rubber stamped within the planning department, as would normally be the case.  Councillors were thus forced to openly take responsibility and reveal their support or lack of support for local residents.

Secondly, we were initially informed by the Council that despite the fifty seven objections, only two people would be allowed to address the Planning Sub Committee as there are no public speaking rights. This is merely another barrier placed in the path of residents wishing to get involved in the democratic process.  Eventually, after a Twitter war initiated by Florian Peschelt, the Chair of the Planning Sub Committee, Councillor Peray Ahmet allowed five people to address the committee.  They were Amamassa Kpognon, Yeliz Dogacan, Florian Peschelt, Jasmin Taylor and Zena Brabazon who all made excellent and impassioned speeches.  In addition to the five, two Councillors, Isidoros Diakides, one of the ward councillors for Tottenham Green, and Clive Carter, (who described himself as “an active and proud member” of the Friends group) also gave brilliant speeches revealing their depth of knowledge on the Children’s Garden and planning regulations.

After the meeting those attending also spoke to Councillor Makbule Gunes, (another one of the Tottenham Green ward councillors) and discovered that she also supported the Friends group at the library and would have liked to address the committee on our behalf. We therefore have two out of the three councillors in Tottenham Green ward supporting the campaign. This leaves only Bernice Vanier in Tottenham ward in support of the degradation and reduction in size of the library.

There were few signs of life amongst the rest of the Councillors and the architect who proudly showed off with this plans “dogs dinner” he had made of the Children’s Garden.  Only architects completely assured that they will be paid however rubbishy the quality of their designs would have put so little effort into the plans for the library and unashamedly submitted them.

Issues such as the problems involved in getting buggies through revolving doors were simply brushed aside and it immediately became obvious that when Jason Arthur, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Leader on the Plans for the Library started to address the committee in support of Fusion’s application that he was speaking off the top of his head as he was producing figures which were not even part of the Council’s own official spin campaign.  In other words, he was making them up on the spot.

Nevertheless when it came to the vote there was a veritable sea of hands as most of the Councillors on the committee approved the installation of the revolving door.   It is therefore not surprising that during this process, sheep noises were heard emanating from the public gallery.  Councillors were clearly non-plussed by the fact that Fusion’s application contained a ten page arboricultural report which aimed to ensure the safety of the rare Swamp Cypress tree in the Children’s Garden, but that there was nothing in the application remotely concerned with the safety of the children making use of the library! Because we feel that the Councillors who voted for the installation of the door  were prepared to ignore the serious child safeguarding concerns raised by residents we  are naming and shaming them below by printing their names in a larger font and in bold.  The councillors voting in favour of the door were

Councillor Peray Ahmet

Councillor Vincent Carroll

Councillor Dhiren Basu

Councillor John Bevan

Councillor Natan Doron

Councillor Toni Mallett

Councillor James Patterson

Councillor James Ryan

Councillor Elin Weston

Please remember the above names when making decisions about who to vote for at the next local elections.  And if you are a member of the Labour Party, please remember these names when decisions about the reselection of councillors are discussed in the future.

To add insult to injury, outside, after the vote, Councillor Jason Arthur came across to the Chair and observed by two other committee members surprised us all by saying that the whole thing could be sorted out “one to one over a cup of coffee.” We believe he rather naively failed to understand just how unpalatable this particular cup of coffee would be.  He stated that this was his way of working with all the Friends groups in the borough.  We personally find this hard to believe and consider it to be merely a divide and rule tactic.  Arthur therefore had to be informed that as committee members of a public library we simply could not make private deals with politicians!

See below for links to the Council’s website for the video of the meeting and also for coverage of the rally which preceded the event and the meeting as covered in the Haringey Independent:

http://www.haringey.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/191462

http://www.thetottenhamindependent.co.uk/news/13982111.Library_door_plans_approved_despite_councillor_opposition/

The Library Garden

On 1 December, Florian Peschelt, from our committee, and Laura Harrison, a member of the Friends and a long-standing volunteer in the Children’s Garden, contractors and the works project manager on site in the Children’s Library in an attempt to save a number of plants and trees from destruction, once the works start in the garden area.

Our concerns were that the current planting would be destroyed when external work starts on the building, despite all the years of hard work, effort and devotion community members have expended in order to create a safe, secure and beautiful environment for children and their carers.

Firstly, the contractors will dig out some larger trees and bushes. In order to save smaller plants from the garden Florian and Laura met at the garden on the 4 of December. Please join us on future workdays in the Garden (more notice will be given).  Help to preserve the plants is desperately needed from other Friends!!  

Secondly, at least one positive outcome of the Planning Sub Committee meeting was that a requirement has been placed on the planning permission, that a ‘landscaping scheme’ for the garden area, and a timescale for delivering it, be submitted before the external works can start.  After some discussion and the dawning realisation that the Council’s future plans for the garden were unimaginatively limited to gravel and concrete ramps, it was decided that any future decisions/plans about the garden would be made at a workshop at the community consultation event organised by us for February 27, 2016.  Such a workshop will provide the ideal opportunity to get ideas and feedback on designs for the garden and also encourage the gathering together of a group of residents, interested in volunteering to take care of the garden in the future.

It was also discovered that the Council was not prepared to use any stones larger than gravel, even if they were more aesthetically pleasing because of fears that stones could be used as missiles!  Also, despite the declarations that the library would be opening at the beginning of February, the library is now not expected to open before March 2016.

The Door to Nowhere

The plans produced by Frankham’s the architect at the meeting revealed that a gate has not been placed in the perimeter fencing and so it would only be possible to use the revolving door to exit from the library into the garden, and not from the outside of the perimeter fence into the library. In other words, as presented, there is no public entrance.  We therefore have plans for a very expensive revolving door which leads to nowhere.  When asked why a gate to allow a public entrance had not been placed in the perimeter fencing, the architects made it clear that they wished to door to be installed so that flexibility remained for it to be transformed into a public entrance at a future date. Rumour has it that whatever happens in this area is very much linked to the Council’s regeneration plans.  Clearly, further applications for planning permission may have to be made if there is going to be any change of use of the land immediately beyond the perimeter fence to make it viable for a path to be cut through the garden; so for now the  revolving door cannot be used as a public entrance.  It is important that we all keep an eye on the situation and try to discover what the Council are up to and that we continue the campaign to ensure that the entrance is never used as a public entrance.  It may be possible to get more concrete information on the Council’s plans via a Freedom of Information request, but if anyone has any knowledge of what the Council is planning to do with the area beyond the perimeter fence please could you let us know.

Labour Party Motion

One of the Friends of Marcus Garvey Library, Keith Dunn, submitted and got passed the following motion at the last General Committee of the Tottenham Constituency Labour Party:

We call on the council to reverse its decision to place a customer service centre in Marcus Garvey Library and find a more suitable home for it that does no harm to the very well used and loved facility.

The new commercial area in the new Apex complex should include the customer service centre presently intended for Marcus Garvey Library.  Any use of the Library for this purpose should be temporary.

This ward is particularly concerned at the contempt shown by the council towards the ethnic residents of Tottenham who have a profound emotional connection with a library dedicated to an icon of modern black history.

We understand that our M.P. David Lammy was also present at the meeting and supported the motion.  Apparently, as the Labour Party works, this is just the beginning, and it takes time for these motions to be manifested as Council policy; but we truly welcome the support the motion gives the campaign and hope that it will eventually be taken up and supported by Labour Party members in the neighbouring Bruce Grove and Tottenham Hale wards as these areas also have Marcus Garvey Library users.  If you are a Labour Party member please could you discuss the motion in your meetings?  We are very grateful for the hard work Keith has put into getting this motion off the ground even though we are aware that it will be a long haul before it is implemented.

Date for your diary:

Marcus Garvey Library – Community Consultation 27 February 2016

We are organising a community consultation on the Marcus Garvey Library which will be taking place on the 27of February 2016.  This event will be free to all local residents and those interested in the library.  We feel that as a Friends group we have been placed in the position where we have had to do the Council’s work for them and organise this.  It will consist of a range of workshops and we already have support from a group of architects, (proper architects interested in consulting with the community!)  to help us to organise the day.  As the workshop plans become more firm we will pass the information on to you.

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Christmas Leafleting Callout

URGENT URGENT URGENT Call Out LEAFLETING AT THE TOTTENHAM GREEN WINTER MARKET Saturday, December 5th, 2015 We will be handing out leaflets advertising the consultation date at the above event.  If you would like to take part, please contact us with the times you can be available.  At the moment we are also looking into whether we could do something jointly with Wards Corner. The timetable is: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Jasmin Taylor/ 11 a.m.  – 12 p.m. 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. - Florian/Ama 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. - Florian/Ama 5 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. Jasmin Taylor/ The Christmas tree lights are going to be turned on by somebody famous at 5 o’clock so it would be good if some people could be around during that period.

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Garden Callout - Save the Plants

URGENT URGENT URGENT CALL OUT YOUR CHILDREN’S GARDEN NEEDS YOU!!! 4TH DECEMBER 2015 10 a.m. 

At 10. a.m. on the 4th of December Florian Peschelt and Laura Harrison will be in the Children’s Garden to remove plants to ensure they are not damaged by the works being carried out on the library so that they can be put back in the garden when the building reopens. Help is needed from other Friends to help them achieve this. Bring along a pair of sturdy boots, a spade and a strong back. Other accessories such as hats and safety vests will be provided by the contractors. Hope to see you there. Jasmin Taylor/Chair

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News Update 9

Dear Friends,

1. We’re Back!!!

Apologies for our absence.  In the first week of November we began to encounter serious problems when sending out mass mailings of emails. They kept bouncing back as spam.  After days of panic and confusion, one of the Friends came to our rescue.  Margaret Burr researched MailChimp for us and imported the email addresses over.  She is also using her excellent organisations skills to whip us into shape by helping us to sort out and make more effective our use of the [email protected] address.  We want to say a deep felt thank you Margaret as it was not until this problem occurred that we realised that without email we are nothing!  The problems with our email account started during a period when there was a lot happening, so this News Update is a little longer than usual.

2. Haringey Council’s Original Brief to Frankham’s, the Architects

In October, the Friends of Marcus Garvey Library submitted a Freedom of Information request to Haringey Council in order to obtain a copy of the original design brief submitted by the Council to Frankham’s the architects.  We had been asking for this for some time, but it was only through the FOI request that we were able to force the Council to hand over this information.

The question we asked Haringey Council was “Please supply a copy of the brief sent to the Frankham Consultancy Group in respect of the redevelopment of Marcus Garvey Library.  (If more than one brief, then the final and most detailed brief).”  To download a copy of the brief go to:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/haringey_council_brief_to_frankh

A copy of the brief is also included as an attachment to this email.

The design brief reveals the Council’s total lack of transparency with respect to their conduct over the Marcus Garvey Library.  

Firstly, the brief was submitted to the architects six months before the March 17th 2015 report came into the public domain.  The brief puts paid to any idea that the Council considered any alternative sites for the relocation of Apex House staff, as they claimedthey had done in the original March 17th report.  The brief makes it clear that it is just nonsense that the insertion of the Customer Service Centre into the library was meant to be for the benefit of library users.  The title tells it all; Apex House Service Relocation:  Feasibility to Adaptations to Marcus Garvey Library, Design Brief, September 2014 Page five of the brief clearly states that “…given the time pressures to vacate Apex House…Haringey Council intends to undertake adaptations to Marcus Garvey Library to allow Customer Services and Housing Advice and Options to relocate their Frontline service from Apex House to Marcus Garvey Library together with sufficient back office staff to support this service and retain a full functioning library.”  Of further interest is the fact that the insertion of a Customer Services Centre was originally meant to be an interim arrangement and also that 120 staff were intended to be transferred overand located on the top floor of the library.  The idea that 120 staff could be fitted into the top floor of the library shows that whoever wrote this brief had never actually visited the library, was living in cloud cuckoo land or was expecting the staff in Apex House to go on a very heavy duty diet!  There simply is not the space on the top floor of the library to make this happen.

Ultimately, the brief reveals that the Council had already made up their mind and set in place arrangements to insert a customer services centre into the library, a whole six months before the matter came into the public domain. It’s the reason why they did not bother to expend any time and energy on a public consultation.

3. Rally and Meeting of the Planning Sub Committee on Monday, 9th of November

On the 9th of November, despite the tight security and the metal barriers at the front of the Civic Centre campaigners staged a peaceful protest against plans to install a revolving door at the back of the library because of the serious child safeguarding issues it raises.  In the Planning Sub Committee which followed the rally, Councillors were forced to listen to representations from community members objecting to Fusion’s application to install the new door.  The fifty seven objections to the door from local residents showed the strength of feeling within the community.  Despite the ultimate outcome of this committee meeting, we have to consider the fact we got this far to be a success.  Campaigners forced the issue to be discussed in an open meeting by Councillors, rather than being rubber stamped within the planning department, as would normally be the case.  Councillors were thus forced to openly take responsibility and reveal their support or lack of support for local residents.

Secondly, we were initially informed by the Council that despite the fifty seven objections, only two people would be allowed to address the Planning Sub Committee as there are no public speaking rights. This is merely another barrier placed in the path of residents wishing to get involved in the democratic process.  Eventually, after a Twitter war initiated by Florian Peschelt, the Chair of the Planning Sub Committee, Councillor Peray Ahmet allowed five people to address the committee.  They were Amamassa Kpognon, Yeliz Dogacan, Florian Peschelt, Jasmin Taylor and Zena Brabazon who all made excellent and impassioned speeches.  In addition to the five, two Councillors, Isidoros Diakides, one of the ward councillors for Tottenham Green, and Clive Carter, (who described himself as “an active and proud member” of the Friends group) also gave brilliant speeches revealing their depth of knowledge on the Children’s Garden and planning regulations. After the meeting those attending also spoke to Councillor Makbule Gunes, (another one of the Tottenham Green ward councillors) and discovered that she also supported the Friends group at the library and would have liked to address the committee on our behalf. We therefore have two out of the three councillors in Tottenham Green ward supporting the campaign. This leaves only Bernice Vanier in Tottenham ward in support of the degradation and reduction in size of the library.

There were few signs of life amongst the rest of the Councillors and the architect who proudly showed off with this plans “dogs dinner” he had made of the Children’s Garden.  Only architects completely assured that they will be paid however rubbishy the quality of their designs would have put so little effort into the plans for the library and unashamedly submitted them.

Issues such as the problems involved in getting buggies through revolving doors were simply brushed aside and it immediately became obvious that when Jason Arthur, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Leader on the Plans for the Library started to address the committee in support of Fusion’s application that he was speaking off the top of his head as he was producing figures which were not even part of the Council’s own official spin campaign. In other words, he was making them up on the spot.

Nevertheless when it came to the vote there was a veritable sea of hands as most of the Councillors on the committee approved the installation of the revolving door.   It is therefore not surprising that during this process, sheep noises were heard emanating from the public gallery. Councillors were clearly non-plussed by the fact that Fusion’s application contained a ten page arboricultural report which aimed to ensure the safety of the rare Swamp Cypress tree in the Children’s Garden, but that there was nothing in the application remotely concerned with the safety of the children making use of the library! Because we feel that the Councillors who voted for the installation of the door  were prepared to ignore the serious child safeguarding concerns raised by residents we are naming and shaming them below by printing their names in a larger font and in bold. The councillors voting in favour of the door were

Councillor Peray Ahmet

Councillor Vincent Carroll

Councillor Dhiren Basu

Councillor John Bevan

Councillor Natan Doron

Councillor Toni Mallett

Councillor James Patterson

Councillor James Ryan

Councillor Elin Weston

Please remember the above names when making decisions about who to vote for at the next local elections.  And if you are a member of the Labour Party, please remember these names when decisions about the reselection of councillors are discussed in the future.

To add insult to injury, outside, after the vote, Councillor Jason Arthur came across to the Chair and observed by two other committee members surprised us all by saying that the whole thing could be sorted out “one to one over a cup of coffee.” We believe he rather naively failed to understand just how unpalatable this particular cup of coffee would be.  He stated that this was his way of working with all the Friends groups in the borough.  We personally find this hard to believe and consider it to be merely a divide and rule tactic. Arthur therefore had to be informed that as committee members of a public library we simply could not make private deals with politicians!

See below for links to the Council’s website for the video of the meeting and also for coverage of the rally which preceded the event and the meeting as covered in the Haringey Independent:

http://www.haringey.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/191462

http://www.thetottenhamindependent.co.uk/news/13982111.Library_door_plans_approved_despite_councillor_opposition/

4. The Door to Nowhere

The plans produced by Frankham’s the architect at the meeting revealed that a gate has not been placed in the perimeter fencing and so it would only be possible to use the revolving door to exit from the library into the garden, and not from the outside of the perimeter fence into the library. In other words, as presented, there is no public entrance.  We therefore have plans for a very expensive revolving door which leads to nowhere.  When asked why a gate to allow a public entrance had not been placed in the perimeter fencing, the architects made it clear that they wished to door to be installed so that flexibility remained for it to be transformed into a public entrance at a future date. Rumour has it that whatever happens in this area is very much linked to the Council’s regeneration plans. Clearly, further applications for planning permission may have to be made if there is going to be any change of use of the land immediately beyond the perimeter fence to make it viable for a path to be cut through the garden; so for now the  revolving door cannot be used as a public entrance.  It is important that we all keep an eye on the situation and try to discover what the Council are up to and that we continue the campaign to ensure that the entrance is never used as a public entrance. It may be possible to get more concrete information on the Council’s plans via a Freedom of Information request, but if anyone has any knowledge of what the Council is planning to do with the area beyond the perimeter fence please could you let us know.

5. Labour Party Motion

One of the Friends of Marcus Garvey Library, Keith Dunn, submitted and got passed the following motion at the last General Committee of the Tottenham Constituency Labour Party:

We call on the council to reverse its decision to place a customer service centre in Marcus Garvey Library and find a more suitable home for it that does no harm to the very well used and loved facility.

The new commercial area in the new Apex complex should include the customer service centre presently intended for Marcus Garvey Library. Any use of the Library for this purpose should be temporary.

This ward is particularly concerned at the contempt shown by the council towards the ethnic residents of Tottenham who have a profound emotional connection with a library dedicated to an icon of modern black history.

We understand that our M.P. David Lammy was also present at the meeting and supported the motion.  Apparently, as the Labour Party works, this is just the beginning, and it takes time for these motions to be manifested as Council policy; but we truly welcome the support the motion gives the campaign and hope that it will eventually be taken up and supported by Labour Party members in the neighbouring Bruce Grove and Tottenham Hale wards as these areas also have Marcus Garvey Library users.  If you are a Labour Party member please could you discuss the motion in your meetings?  We are very grateful for the hard work Keith has put into getting this motion off the ground even though we are aware that it will be a long haul before it is implemented.

6. Marcus Garvey Library – Community Consultation 27th of February 2016

We are organising a community consultation on the Marcus Garvey Library which will be taking place on the 27th of February 2016.  This event will be free to all local residents and those interested in the library.  We feel that as a Friends group we have been placed in the position where we have had to do the Council’s work for them and organise this.  It will consist of a range of workshops and we already have support from a group of architects, (proper architects interested in consulting with the community!) to help us to organise the day.  As the workshop plans become more firm we will pass the information on to you.

7. Tottenham Green Winter Market, 5th of December

Out of the thousands of national and local firms the Council could they have chosen to sponsor the event, they alighted on Graingers, the people who bought Apex House from the Council for peanuts and who we understand are still in sensitive negotiations with the Council.  We felt it would be a good idea to actually have a stall at the market; but have been informed that this would not be possible as the stalls are for people selling produce, arts and crafts in the church building, but that we would be very welcome at the market, handing out leaflets and interacting with people.  We have therefore decided to take the opportunity to do just that.

We will be handing out leaflets advertising the consultation date.  If you would like to hand out leaflets please contact us with the times you will be available.  At the moment we are also looking into whether we could do something jointly with Wards Corner

The current timetable is

10 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Jasmin Taylor/

11 a.m.  – 12 p.m.

1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Amamassa/Florian

2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Amamassa/Florian

3 p.m. – 4 p.m.

5 p.m. – 5.30 p.m. Jasmin Taylor/

The Christmas tree lights are going to be turned on by somebody famous at 5 o’clock so it would be good if some people could be around during that period.

8. The Library Garden

On the 1st of December, Florian Peschelt, from our committee, and Laura Harrison, a member of the Friends and a long-standing volunteer in the Children’s Garden, contractors and the works project manager on site in the Children’s Library in an attempt to save a number of plants and trees from destruction, once the works start in the garden area. Our concerns were that the current planting would be destroyed when external work starts on the building, despite all the years of hard work, effort and devotion community members have expended in order to create a safe, secure and beautiful environment for children and their carers.

There were two outcomes from this meeting.

Firstly, the contractors will dig out some larger trees and bushes. In order to save smaller plants from the garden Florian and Laura and will be meeting at the garden on the 4th of December at 10. a.m. Please come along to help them. To take part all you need is a pair of sturdy boots, a spade and a strong back. I understand that the contractors will be providing the other accessories, such as hats and safety vests. Please join them.  Help to preserve the plants is desperately needed from other Friends!!  

Secondly, at least one positive outcome of the Planning Sub Committee meeting was that a requirement has been placed on the planning permission, that a ‘landscaping scheme’ for the garden area, and a timescale for delivering it, be submitted before the external works can start.  After some discussion and the dawning realisation that the Council’s future plans for the garden were unimaginatively limited to gravel and concrete ramps, it was decided that any future decisions/plans about the garden would be made at a workshop at the community consultation event organised by us for February 27th 2016.  Such a workshop will provide the ideal opportunity to get ideas and feedback on designs for the garden and also encourage the gathering together of a group of residents, interested in volunteering to take care of the garden in the future.

It was also discovered that the Council were not prepared to use any stones larger than gravel because of fears that stones could be used as missiles and also, despite the declarations that the library would be opening at the beginning of February, the library is now not expected to open before March 2016.

Best wishes

Jasmin Taylor/Chair

Friends of Marcus Garvey Library

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RALLY!

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These are the current plans - if the council goes ahed with them despite a groundbreaking Tottenham Labour vote to keep customer services out of the library - red and bright green (for the garden) spaces will be lost.

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Marcus Garvey Library - Haringey Council's Plans

Please watch, comment, tweet, like and relay all our recent posts. Get the message out there. We made the news on the BBC TV: https://youtu.be/r-w3OEPXxUc An...

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News Update 8

1) Rally against Serious Child Safeguarding Issues at Library, November 9th, 6.15– 7.p.m. Civic Centre, High Road, Wood Green, N22 8LE Our new film on the plans has just been uploaded: https://youtu.be/LCxLJQ7kEO4 Please watch and share! On the 9th of November the Council will be considering the fifty-seven objections to a new main entrance located at the back of the Marcus Garvey Library.  However the Friends of Marcus Garvey Library believe that the increased flow of people passing through the redesigned library for customer services will create a serious child safeguarding risk.  The door is intended to form the entrance of a heavily used thoroughfare passing immediately by the children’s library. We understand that Fusion Lifestyle, who put in the application, are concerned about the “hordes” of people who will be going into the Customer Services Centre using their front entrance.  Well, surprise, surprise, so are we! The newly combined library and customer services centre will have open access for all customers. Unlike a school, where access would be heavily controlled the children’s library will be very exposed. Recent tragedies have shown that Haringey Council needs to improve both its practice and image with regard to the safeguarding of children. We consider their stubborn determination to locate a heavily used pathway – ‘library street’ – through the children’s garden and adjacent to the children’s library as a disaster waiting to happen.   Dear Councillors, the children of Tottenham matter! They are just as cherished as those in Crouch End or Muswell Hill! THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR CHILDREN MUST COME FIRST! We want Haringey Council think again about the construction of this new entrance and ask you to join in our efforts to get these ill-thought out plans for this part of the library squashed. We would encourage anyone opposed to what the Council are planning to come to the rally at the Civic Centre on the 9th of November at 6. 15 p.m. and also to attend the Council meeting which follows at 7 p.m. Ensuring that the joint entrance with Fusion Lifestyle is maintained permanently is going to be the community’s only opportunity to influence the plans in any way because of the Council’s refusal to carry out a proper public consultation. The Friends have found through the asking of Freedom of Information questions that Fusion Lifestyle in effect own the library because the Council has to pay them £66,500 per annum in rent to use the space!  This is a serious concern.  It makes it clear that the Council may not be able to be entirely objective in any decisions it makes about Fusion because of this recently discovered financial relationship. 2) Lack of Democracy We were surprised to find out that only two speakers will be allowed to address the Committee on the 9th of November, with an allocated time of three minutes each!  Because it is on a first-come, first served basis we felt we had to immediately submit two names. However, we have queried the way the Council has organised this as we believe that the fifty-seven people who have objected call for more people to be involved in this democratic process.  Even now, the council continues to refuse to listen to the Community. This is why so many Tottenham residents are fed up with local politics. Only allowing six minutes for fifty-seven objections is quite frankly insulting.  Councillors fail to understand that it is not just a matter about a door, but an issue of serious concern for many people in the Tottenham community. If you wish to address the committee and make yourself heard, we would encourage you to contact the Committee Secretariat on 020 8489 1512 or email: [email protected] We have also been trying to contact Councillor Peray Ahmet, who is chairing the planning committee on November the 9th to ask if more objectors and other members of the community can be allowed to speak and, if more time could be allocated. So far, we have not been able to reach her.  Please continue to email and phone Councillor Peray Ahmet and persuade her to allow the community a voice.  Her phone number is: 07812677735.  Her email address is:[email protected] 3) Organising the Rally for the 9th of November On November the 5th, we will be leafleting the people queuing up to go into the BBC TV Question Time Programme which is being filmed at the Bernie Grant Arts Centre.  After that, we will be having a short informal meeting in the Cafe or elsewhere in the Arts Centre where there is space so that we can discuss preparation for the rally on the 9th of November.  Anybody who wishes to be involved is welcome to come along.  Hope to see you there. 4) Expert Witnesses In preparation for the meeting with the Council on the 9th of November we are sending out a request to any ex-social workers, teachers or nursery workersto contact us in confidence to provide us with more evidence on why it is simply not viable to have a children’s library in such close proximity to people entering and leaving the Council’s planned Customer Services Centre.  The Friends Group first took this issue on board because of the concerns of the carers who used the children’s library and garden, but we would also greatly appreciate the input of other professionals. Jasmin Taylor/Friends of Marcus Garvey Library Chair

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Apex House - Object to Fag Packet Tower

Dear All,

Objections to the 22 storey monstrosity which the developers Graingers wish to impose on the beleaguered community of Tottenham must be received by the Council by the 30th of October. So far there have only been 39 objections to the building which has come to be known as Fag Packet Towers which is planned to be built on the site of Apex House.  

It is worth remembering that it is only because the Council declared the Apex House building ‘surplus to requirements’ and needed somewhere to house all the staff that we have been forced to campaign for our library.  It is only because the Apex House staff are being squeezed into the upper floor of the Marcus Garvey library that we are faced with a fifty per cent reduction in library space.

There is a lot we could say about the deal which resulted in the building being sold off by the Council for peanuts.  But let’s focus on the facts, i.e. what’s in it, or rather what’s not in it for Tottenham residents.

We understand that Graingers have thrown a few crumbs our way, but there will be nothing above ground level for Tottenham people. In addition, the flats in the rest of the building will be totally unaffordable for the majority of Tottenham residents.

What is the point of putting up a 22 storey ‘landmark’ building in an area consisting mainly of modest Victorian terraces?  Clearly that area around the tube does need ‘improving’, but this building is clearly just an extreme example of willy-waving by Graingers.  

Graingers need to reduce the size of the building and create something worthy of the people of Tottenham. We understand that they are supposed to be the biggest private landlord in the UK.  They therefore need to spend invest some of their cash reserves in creating plans for housing the local community can actually stomach and afford.

Please support the campaign to reduce the size of the building and improve its the aesthetics.  To call it cheap and cheerful is simply being too kind.

The link to lodge your objections is below:

http://www.planningservices.haringey.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=284795

and you can also use

HGY/2015/2915 on the Haringey Council Planning web page.

Best wishes

Jasmin Taylor/Chair

The Friends of Marcus Garvey Library

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Jeremy

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Closed

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News Update 6 and Next Meeting 26th of September at 2 to 3.30 p.m. in the Bernie Grant Arts Centre

Dear All,

A lot has been going on since the closure of the Marcus Garvey Library on the 30th of August, and we are still fighting!

1. Spreading the Word:

Lord Morrison Hall   On the 5th of September, the Chair took part in a panel discussion on education at this well used and respected community centre which is under treat from closure by Haringey Council. It was a packed event and it was clear during the question and answer session that community members were really concerned about the closure of the library and the fact that no alternative space to study for young people had so far been provided by the Council.

Galaxy Radio On the 7th of September, the Chair had a short interview with this community radio station and talked about the reasons why the campaign got off the ground and the community support for it.

Gary Younge's Letter to America at the Bernie Grant Memorial Lecture On the 10th of September, after Gary Younge 's lecture on why Blacks lives matter in America, Jasmin took the microphone and made a powerful statement about the MGL, which received a warm applause. If you have pictures of our secretary and the panelists holding the Save Marcus Garvey Library banner, please send them to us at [email protected]!

2. Cabinet Signing September 7th 2015

The Chair and three members of the Friends of Marcus Garvey Library attended this cabinet signing which was chaired by Councillor Jason Arthur.   The third and sixth items on the agenda were the ‘Marcus Garvey Library CSC – Refurbishment/Adaptations Construction Contract Award. The aim of the Cabinet Signing was to release £2,092,266.55 of funds to carry out the work on the library and assign the tenders.  Members of the public were only allowed to stay for the third agenda item as the sixth item on the library was discussed in secret.  Cabinet signings are rarely attended by members of the public and we found out that they are usually over in five minutes, but we felt that it was important to attend as they provide an opportunity to question the chair, Jason Arthur on the agenda items.  Councillor Arthur was thus forced to justify the Council’s position on the Marcus Garvey Library for almost half an hour. He was asked five questions by the Chair of the Friends of Marcus Garvey Library:

What is the actual motivation behind this project?

To what extent are you confident that this project enjoys broad community support?

We know what the Monitoring Officer has said, but are you personally confident that the entire process leading up to this signing has been entirely lawful and within the requirements for proper corporate governance?

Are you aware that feeling is such in the local community that this decision could be subject to a judicial review and the judge would have the power to squash it?

Are you aware that when Apex House has too many queries that the building has to be closed; therefore would you be happy if the library building would have to be closed under the new arrangements?

Councillor Arthur did not deviate from the Council’s official line in his responses but he made some comments which the Friends group consider interesting. When asked whether he was aware that feeling is such in the local community that this decision could be subject to a judicial review and the judge would have the power to squash it, his response was that the reason we were focussing on the process was because we were not happy with the outcome.  [He said this despite the fact that only by adherence to the correct process is it possible for the community to be actively and democratically involved in the Council’s decision making process.]   He also said that it was not appropriate for an Equalities Impact Statement to be included in the March report on libraries, Review of Libraries and Improving Face to Face Customer Services, as the contents of that report should be considered to have been an aspiration for the work to be carried out.  Thus, given that no plans had yet been produced for the March report it would not have been appropriate for there to be an Equality Impact Statement.  In arguing this he is ignoring the fact that legally, Equality Impact Statements are supposed to form the bedrock of projects, and are not meant to be tagged on later as an afterthought.  Section 7.4 of the March Report, Review of Libraries and Improving Face to Face Customer Services clearly states that

“It is noted, and the Assistant Director, Corporate Governance supports, that there is an intention to conduct consultation and equality impact assessments as required before implementing any of the proposals which Cabinet resolves to adopt.  Any information generated as a result of those exercises must be used to inform decision making.”

There was a discussion over whether there would be four or five tiers of book shelves in the study section of the Council’s vision of our library and the council officers’  acknowledged there was confusion over this and said they were still having talks with the designer.  They cheerfully admitted that the plans were not detailed enough, yet still signed off more than £2000, 000 to be spent on the library.  This provided the Chair of FOMGL with a valuable insight into the Council’s shambolic financial housekeeping practices, lack of quality control and scant regard for due process.

However, Councillor Arthur did admit that given the conclusions of Activist Group Report on libraries, Library Service Review, (2014), he perhaps should have gone back to the users and said that Customer Services should be moved into the library.

Clive Carter, a member of the Friends Group was also present, he asked questions on the understanding that he would not get an immediate response from Councillor Arthur.

Was a full public consultation carried out?

What was the brief made available to the architects ?

What was the length of the bookshelves?

Is it credible that the work could proceed without permission for the new door?

The following address leads to the Council’s own record of the meeting.  See in particular the section ‘printed draft Minutes.’ http://www.minutes.haringey.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?Cid=435&Mid=7553 


3. Planning Objections to the New Door

The number of objections currently stands at 57.  Thank you to everyone who objected.  It is inconceivable that with such a high number of objections the Council will go ahead and make decisions on the door in planning department, rather than bringing the issue to the planning committee.  It is inconceivable, yet still possible knowing the ability of Haringey Council to fly in the face of the wishes of its local community.

4. Councillor Jason Arthur’s Presentation on Council Plans for Marcus Garvey Library September 8th, 2015

Councillor Arthur delivered a presentation on the Council’s plans for the Marcus Garvey Library to a packed Labour Party meeting at the Beehive Pub in Tottenham.

Amamassa Kpognon, Ayiah Jahan, Florian Peschelt and Jasmin Taylor of the Friends of Marcus Garvey Library Committee all attended and we observed the anger and concern expressed by Labour members over a plan and process conceived of and put into action by a Labour Council! It is clearly worrying that members of Labour’s own party have been kept in the dark.

The fact that 57 people had submitted objections to the new door gave us the grounds to challenge Councillor Arthur to ensure that the decision over the door be taken at the planning committee, rather than within the planning department.  He eventually reluctantly agreed to ask for this to be done.   Jason Arthur also acknowledged that it would have been better for the Council to have consulted more fully with the community. He claimed that there was still time for the community’s wishes to be taken into account with regard to the internal design.

After the official presentation Ayiah Jahan discussed the issue of a consultation with Jason Arthur on the basis that the Council would provide resources for the FOMGL to hold a pre-consultation workshop in order that our members have the opportunity to discuss and examine the plans as they currently stand, and then have a consultation with the Council who will ensure that all relevant officers, architects and council officials attend. In addition Jason Arthur was tasked with providing the FOMGL with an appropriate venue for our group meetings within the Tottenham Green area.

Once again Jason Arthur demonstrated his peculiar understanding of ‘consulting’ by deciding where the FOMGL would prefer to meet e.g. Coombes or St Ann’s Library. It was however made crystal clear to him that the FOMGL are based in Tottenham Green and expect the same equality of treatment as the other groups that have been accommodated within Tottenham Green. It remains to be seen whether this mini consultation bears fruit or whether Jason Arthur will reconfigure the dynamics of the conversation with the Vice Chair to his own perspective and veto any alternative view with his trump card. He is THE COUNCILLOR and his opinion is sacrosanct as he did when discussing the inadequacies of the architect plans. A professional might have suggested showing the plans to an independent third party to ascertain whether they were robust enough to sanction a 2M budget allocation. But no, Jason Arthur’s proposal was to ‘agree to disagree’. The Vice Chair did not consider this to be an appropriate response and refused his offer.

5. New Film on Plans

With generous technical support from Wood Green Films we are making a new film which will focus specifically on the plans.

6. Online and Paper Petition

The good news is that the number who has signed the online petition is currently over 2000 and the number who has signed the paper petition is 384.  

7. Future Strategy

We are currently constructing a strategy and it will be one of the items we will be putting forward at the Friends Group meeting on the 26th of September.

8.Haringey March for Homes and Communities Saturday the 19th of September

Jenny Sutton the organiser of the Haringey March for Homes and Communities has invited the Chair of Friends of Marcus Garvey Library to speak at this event which is taking place on the 19th of September.  

The assembly point is Kenneth Robbins House, Northumberland Park N17 at 12 p.m. and the march will finish at Tottenham Town Hall.  

If you wish to add your support, besides coming on the march you should contact Jenny Sutton by phone:  [phone] or by email: [email protected]  Hope to see you there.

9.  Jeremy Corbyn Win

Congratulations to Jeremy for winning the election for the leadership of the Labour Party so convincingly!   Jeremy, who started out his political career as a councillor in Haringey was one of our early supporters and we use a selfie of him with one of our placards as part of our campaign. Again well done and best wishes to him and to the many highly committed volunteers who worked so hard to ensure his victory.

10. Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Friends of Marcus Garvey Library Friends Group will take place on the 26th of September at 2 to 3.30 p.m. in the Bernie Grant Arts Centre.

Best wishes

Jasmin Taylor/Friends of Marcus Garvey Library

Chair

"Action, self-reliance, the vision of self and the future have been the only means by which the oppressed have seen and realised the light of their own freedom."

Marcus Garvey

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Signing of of the £2m contracts for the construction works

On the 7th of September at 9 a.m., a Cabinet Member (Cllr. Jason Arthur) is going to sign the £2m contracts for the construction works at the Marcus Garvey Library. As we have significant concerns about the transparency of the whole process, we contacted Haringey Council to ask if we could attend this very important meeting. It appears that parts of the meeting will be held in secret, but everyone is entitled to attend the public part of the meeting. (see the attached agenda)

The meeting will begin promptly at 9am and will be held in Committee Room 3, of the Haringey Civic Centre (High Rd, Wood Green, London N22 8LE). You will need to sign in as a visitor at reception and then make your wake up to the first floor.

We hope to see you there!